Method in a sheet metal working centre and sheet metal working centre

ABSTRACT

A method in a sheet metal working center, wherein a sheet secured to mounting member of a moving carriage arrangement is transferred in accordance with a predetermined program substantially in XY orthogonal coordinates in the main plane of the sheet so that machining of the sheet may be carried out by multiple machining units. At least two of the machining units are placed in the sheet metal working center and have separate XY orthogonal coordinates, and directions X of the separate XY orthogonal coordinates of the machines are combined to a common direction X of the sheet metal working center.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a method in a sheet metal working centre,wherein a sheet secured to mounting means of a moving carriagearrangement in connection with said sheet metal working centre istransferred in accordance with a predetermined program substantially inthe orthogonal coordinates X, Y in the main plane of the sheet in orderto carry out machinings or the like directed to the sheet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to such sheet metal working centres inwhich sheets are handled to machine them to a desired form. As a generalrule, the objects to be machined are metal sheets, e.g. 1250×2500 mm or1500×3000 mm in size. Typically, the thickness of the metal sheets isvariable between 0.5 mm and 3.5 mm, wherein reference is generally madeto so-called thin sheets, or thin sheet metal working centres,respectively. Typical machinings performed for sheets in a sheet metalworking centre include e.g. punching, angular cutting, thread cuffing orriveting. Other operations that can be directed to a sheet include e.g.providing the surface of an otherwise completed sheet with variousmarkings using an adhesive-label machine (EAN coding), or the like.

As to the prior art, reference is made to a U.S. Pat. No. 4,658,682,describing one automatic sheet metal working machine. A sheet metalworking machine typically comprises a frame and a carriage arrangementmoving relative to the frame and comprising a first carriage and asecond carriage that is mounted in the first carriage and moving in adirection perpendicular relative to the direction of motion of saidfirst carriage. Said second carriage comprises mounting means, e.g. aset of mounting jaws, to secure the edge portion of the sheet that is tobe machined to the carriage arrangement. The first and the secondcarriage of the carriage arrangement can be used for moving the sheet tobe machined substantially in the coordinates X, Y of the main plane ofthe sheet relative to the machining unit used, e.g. a punch or a cutter.

Modern machining units intended for sheet metal work are controlled bynumerical computer control. In the memory of a control centre situatedin connection with the sheet metal working centre, there is stored amachining program, which a machining unit runs automatically undercontrol of the control centre. Programs and devices related to automaticcontrol of machining units intended for sheet metal working as well asfunctions related thereto, are well known in the field as such, andtherefore these will not be described in more detail in this context.

Even though the sheet metal working machine disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.4,658,682 is advantageous as such, modern demands on sheet metalproduction have come up with problems in this kind of sheet metalproduction, in which various machining units are used for machining asheet to be machined one machining phase at a time. The purpose of thepresent invention is to disclose an improved method in sheet metalmachining, in which a plurality of various machinings or the like aredirected to a sheet. By using the basic solution of the invention it ispossible to attain a versatile sheet metal working centre thatimplements a total range of certain machining phases in a singlecomplex. Adapting the basic solution of the invention, a variety ofsheet metal working centre complexes are provided, that have acustomized number of machining units or the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To attain the above-described purposes, the method according to theinvention is primarily characterized in that at least two machiningunits or the like that perform different machinings or the like, areplaced in the sheet metal working centre, and that the directions X ofthe orthogonal X, Y coordinates of the separate machining units or thelike are combined to constitute a common direction X comprising theentire sheet metal working centre, and that the carriage arrangement andthe sheet secured to the mounting means thereof, are transferredaccording to a program predetermined for the machining treatment of thesheet in question between machinings or the like and, if necessary,during machinings or the like performed by different machining units orthe like in the common direction X.

The sheet metal working centre according to the invention, in turn, isprimarily characterized in that the sheet metal working centre comprisesat least two machining units or the like that perform differentmachinings or the like, and that the directions X of the orthogonal X, Ycoordinates of separate working units or the like, are combined toconstitute a common direction X comprising the entire sheet metalworking centre, and that the carriage arrangement and the sheet securedto the mounting means thereof are arranged to be transferred accordingto a program predetermined for the machining treatment of the sheet inquestion between machinings or the like and, if necessary, duringmachinings or the like performed by different machining units or thelike at least in said common direction X.

Other dependent claims related both to the method and the sheet metalworking centre present some preferred embodiments of the method and thesheet metal working centre according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURE

The invention will be illustrated in more detail in the descriptionhereinbelow, in which reference is made to a schematic FIGUREillustrating a top view of a sheet metal working centre applying themethod of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The sheet metal working centre illustrated schematically in the FIGUREcomprises an elongated auxiliary frame 1, in which a carriagearrangement 2, which is provided with mounting means (not shown), ismounted. A second carriage arrangement 2 a may also be movably mountedto auxiliary frame 1. The sheet 3 to be machined, mounted in themounting means of the carriage arrangement 2, is arranged to betransferred in accordance with a predetermined program, substantially inthe orthogonal coordinates X,Y in the main plane of the sheet 3 in ordercarry out machining or other corresponding measures directed to thesheet 3 by using machining units or units 4 to 11, these units beingseparate and positioned proximate relative to the auxiliary frame 1. Acontrol unit 12 is operatively connected to the sheet metal workingcentre, and thus to the plurality of machining units 4 to 11. Controlunit 12, among other things, identifies the machining units and controlsthe respective functions thereof The aforenoted predetermined programmay be stored in the memory of the control unit 12. Thus, the sheetmetal working centre applying the invention comprises a plurality ofmachining units, or the like, at least two of which may be carrying outat least two different machinings, or the like.

The direction X of the orthogonal coordinates X, Y of each separatemachining unit or the like 4 to 11 is combined with the direction X thatis common to the entire sheet metal working centre and is, as alreadymentioned, located in the longitudinal direction of the auxiliary frame1. The carriage arrangement 2 and the sheet 3 attached on the mountingmeans thereof are arranged to be transferred according to a programpredetermined for the machining treatment of said sheet 3, betweenmachinings or the like carried out by at least some machining units orthe like 4 to 11. During or between machinings or the like, carried outby a certain machining unit or the like, the sheet 3 moves, by means ofmovements implemented by the carriage arrangement 2 in individualcoordinates X, Y of the machining unit or the like in question, whereinthe movements in the direction X take place in said direction X that iscommon to the entire sheet metal working centre.

In control centre 12 in connection with the sheet metal working centrethere is arranged a control algorithm by means of which an origin point1. (x=0, y=0) located in the individual coordinates X, Y of eachseparate machining unit or the like 4 to 11, in a common direction Xthat is longitudinally parallel with the auxiliary frame 1, is arrangedto be identified. The auxiliary frame 1, and in a corresponding mannerthe carriage arrangement 2, comprises means (e.g. a combined measuringbeam and carriage arrangement) for positioning of the carriagearrangement 2 in the common direction X. The auxiliary frame 1 can beadvantageously provided with a measuring beam 20 or the like that sharesthe same length with the auxiliary frame 1, and the carriage arrangement2 with a sensor 21. In the longitudinal auxiliary frame 1 and thecarriage arrangement 2 there is placed a linear servo motor arrangement(schematically shown at 22) that substantially shares the same lengthwith the auxiliary frame 1 and is arranged to transfer the carriagearrangement 2 on the auxiliary frame 1 in the direction X that is commonfor the sheet metal working centre. The linear servo motor arrangementcan advantageously comprise, instead of one linear servo motor, two or aplurality of linear servo motors that are placed in parallel next toeach other in the longitudinal direction of the auxiliary frame 1.

In an alternative embodiment, the sheet metal working centre cancomprise at least two carriage arrangements, instead of the one carriagearrangement 2 illustrated in the FIGURE, these carriage arrangementsbeing applied to perform a machining order of their own, naturally atdifferent positions of the common direction X at a different time.

The embodiment of the FIGURE comprises the following machining units 4to 11: a perforating unit 4, a threading unit 5, a riveting unit 6, anadhesive unit 7, a marking unit 8, a deep drawing unit 9, a lasercutting unit 10, and an angle cutting unit 11, these being placed, in amanner characteristic to the invention, in the longitudinal direction ofthe auxiliary frame 1, sequentially at the auxiliary frame 1 in thelateral direction. Thus, this embodiment is widely applicable withrespect to possibilies to perform various machinings and/or othermeasures directed to sheets. The length of the auxiliary frame 1, aswell as the linear motor arrangement and the positioning means placed inconnection therewith, can be selected to correspond to the lengthrequirements of the application used at the time.

The use of the method of the invention can be exemplified as follows:Let us suppose that for a sheet mounted on the carriage arrangement 2there is programmed, on the control unit of the sheet metalworkingcentre, a machining and/or treating requirement, e.g. perforation,riveting and angle cutting, characteristic to the sheet in question orcommon to a certain number of sheets. Thus, upon applying the method thecarriage arrangement 2, together with the sheets 3 (fetched to themounting means of the carriage arrangement 2 from a sheet storage (notshown) included in the sheet metal working centre), are transferred inparallel with the longitudinal direction of the auxiliary frame 1 (thecommon direction X) until the origin of the coordinates X, Y of theperforating unit 4 is recognised and the sheet 3 starts to perform theperforating machining portion implemented in the separate coordinationX, Y of the perforating unit, in accordance with a program stored in thecontrol unit. A corresponding transfer to the location of the rivetingunit 6, i.e. the identification of the origin point, and the rivetingmachining portion performed thereafter, is carried out after theaforementioned perforation. After the riveting machining portion, thelast phase carried out in the example is angle cutting, which isperformed in accordance with the type of action described above, and themachined sheet exits the sheet metal working centre.

1. In a sheet metal working center having at least one moving carriagearrangement, a method of machining a sheet comprising the steps of:transferring the sheet secured to a mounting member of the at least onemoving carriage arrangement in accordance with a predetermined programfor machining of the sheet, the sheet being transferred substantially inXY orthogonal coordinates along the main plane of the sheet; machiningthe sheet by means of machining units, at least two of the machiningunits performing different machinings of the sheet, said at least twomachining units being positioned in the sheet metal working centerhaving separate XY orthogonal coordinates; combining directions X ofsaid separate XY orthogonal coordinates into a common direction X ofsaid sheet metal working center; transferring the at least one movingcarriage arrangement and the sheet secured to the mounting memberthereof in said common direction X in accordance with the predeterminedprogram between machinings and/or during machinings performed by said atleast two machining units; and providing a control algorithm in acontrol unit in connection with the sheet metal working center foridentifying respective origin points of said separate XY orthogonalcoordinates of said at least two machining units, said respective originpoints being located in the common direction X.
 2. The method as setforth in claim 1, further comprising: maintaining the position of themounting member unchanged relative to the sheet when the at least onemoving carriage arrangement and the sheet secured to the mounting memberthereof are transferred between machinings performed by differentmachining units.
 3. A sheet metal working center, comprising: a movingcarriage arrangement having a mounting member for transferring a sheetsecured thereto in accordance with a predetermined program substantiallyin XY orthogonal coordinates along the main plane of the sheet in orderto be machined by machining units positioned in the sheet metal workingcenter; at least two of said machining units for performing differentmachinings on the sheet having separate XY orthogonal coordinates,directions X of said separate XY orthogonal coordinates being combinedto a common direction X of said sheet metal working center, said commondirection X being longitudinally parallel with an auxiliary frame, themoving carriage arrangement and the sheet secured to the mounting memberthereof being arranged to be transferred in said common direction X inaccordance with the predetermined program between machinings and/orduring machinings performed by said at least two machining units; and acontrol algorithm in a control center operatively connected to the sheetmetal working center, said control algorithm being arranged to identifyrespective origin points of said separate XY orthogonal coordinates ofsaid at least two machining units, said respective origin points beinglocated in the common direction X.
 4. The sheet metal working center asset forth in claim 3, wherein the common direction X is formed on saidauxiliary frame that is separate from the respective frames of themachining units and to which the moving carriage arrangement, togetherwith the mounting member thereof, are mounted to and move along, andwherein the machining units are positioned sequentially in thelongitudinal direction of the elongated auxiliary frame.
 5. The sheetmetal working center as set forth in the claim 4, wherein the auxiliaryframe comprises a linear servo motor arrangement that substantiallyshares the same length with the auxiliary frame, said linear servo motorarrangement comprising one or more linear servo motors and beingarranged to transfer the moving carriage arrangement in the commondirection X.
 6. The sheet metal working center as set forth in the claim4, wherein the sheet metal working center comprises at least two movingcarriage arrangements.
 7. The sheet metal working center as set forth inthe claim 3, wherein the auxiliary frame comprises a linear servo motorarrangement that substantially shares the same length with the auxiliaryframe, said linear servo motor arrangement comprising one or more linearservo motors and being arranged to transfer the moving carriagearrangement in the common direction X, and wherein the auxiliary frameand the moving carriage arrangement comprise a member for positioningthe moving carriage arrangement in the common direction X.
 8. The sheetmetal working center as set forth in the claim 7, wherein the sheetmetal working center comprises at least two moving carriagearrangements.
 9. The sheet metal working center as set forth in theclaim 3, wherein the sheet metal working center comprises at least twomoving carriage arrangements.
 10. In a sheet metal working center havingat least one carriage arrangement movably mounted to a frame extendingalong a longitudinal direction, a plurality of machining unitspositioned proximate to said frame, each of said machining units havingits own origin point for performing different machining operations, amethod of machining a sheet in the sheet metal working center comprisingthe steps of: securing the sheet to the at least one carriagearrangement; transferring the sheet by the carriage arrangement inaccordance with a predetermined program for machining the sheetsubstantially in XY orthogonal coordinates along the main plane of thesheet; machining the sheet by at least two of the machining units, saidat least two machining units performing different machining operationson the sheet, said at least two machining units having separate XYorthogonal coordinates; combining directions X of said separate XYorthogonal coordinates into a common direction X of said sheet metalworking center; transferring the at least one moving carriagearrangement and the sheet secured thereto along said common direction Xin accordance with the predetermined program between and/or duringmachining operations performed on the sheet by said at least twomachining units; and providing a control algorithm in a control unitoperatively connected to the sheet metal working center for identifyingthe respective origin points of said separate XY orthogonal coordinatesof said at least two machining units, said respective origin pointsbeing located in the common direction X.
 11. The method as set forth inthe claim 10, further comprising the step of: providing at least twomoving carriage arrangements in the sheet metal working center.
 12. Themethod of claim 11, further comprising the step of: providing positiondetect means for positioning the carriage arangement along the commondirection X.